Lighting design can be the difference between effective infrastructure and missing the mark. Good lighting design brings many benefits including the prevention of night-time road accidents, the provision of a safe environment for both motorized and non-motorized users, assisting in the reduction of street crime and the fear of crime, as well as contributing to the local night-time economy. Innovations such as adaptive lighting, the application of LED light sources and control systems can reduce energy and carbon costs, while ensuring correct lighting performances. Innovations like weather and daylight adaptive lighting can make transportation safer, while reducing energy costs.

We offer bespoke lighting solutions for both interior and exterior projects, across diverse environmental challenges from the Arctic Circle to the Equator. Our lighting designs aim not only to be visually captivating, but to also sit suitably within the environment in which they are located, while also being buildable and maintainable and embracing new technologies. We take key environmental factors into account, including sustainability in the use of energy, as well as ecological factors relating to fauna and flora and obtrusive light.

Putting Our Experience to Work for You

At WSP, we contribute our expertise to the development of national and international standards for lighting design and engineering through our membership and active participation on instrumental committees and panels, including: the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), the Institution of Lighting Professionals (ILP), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and the International Lighting Commission (Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage). These partnerships have resulted in the establishment of industry guidelines and, ultimately, a better lit world.

Our lighting design team is comprised of a diverse group of individuals including designers, architects, engineers, ecologists, daylighting experts, technicians and academics who design lighting projects around the world. With an extensive background in roadway, bridge, tunnel and mass transit lighting design, fixture design and manufacturing, lighting computation and construction support, WSP is experienced in defining appropriate lighting systems including the applicable control and electrical network requirements incorporating main and emergency power supplies.

Technology-Driven Design

Our designers are likewise committed to improving the forefront of lighting technology. One of the areas where we are currently pushing the boundaries is in adaptive lighting, where new technology allows brightness to enhance or dim depending on the user’s needs. The goal is to improve the energy efficiency of outdoor lighting without compromising on user safety.

Many of our highway and infrastructure projects across the globe now include adaptive lighting to maximize energy and carbon savings and to mitigate the impact of fauna and flora, while ensuring that the task is correctly lit and that client service levels are maintained.

In Finland, we recently completed two major bridge projects - Kruunu Bridge and the Finnevik Bridge – that used adaptive lighting to push the envelope, not only enhancing the safety and efficiency of the bridges, but also improving aesthetics, safety, and meeting ecological requirements by respecting the nesting of birds.

Lighting for Tunnels

The design of tunnel lighting is a complex and specialized engineering discipline. Tunnels present the highest road user demands upon lighting and safety, especially during daytime hours when hazard levels are at their peak. Our knowledge regarding state-of- the-art technology and control systems for tunnels also provides us with the opportunity to design energy-efficient lighting solutions with low operation and maintenance costs.

For tunnel lighting, our designers ensure that portal and tunnel entrances and exits and interior zones have the appropriate lighting levels based upon the exterior ambient lighting to ascertain the correct eye adaption and ready identification of objects and other users within the tunnel.

Clem 7 Tunnel lighting transition, Australia

Lighting for Roads and Highways

Lighting helps to support roadway safety with sufficient and uniform illuminance that is best provided by luminaires with good optical control. The choice of light source, luminaire optical control, and control systems allow us to manage obtrusive light and sky glow concerns that meet the requirements of the areas to be lit, while being buildable, easy to maintain and cost effective.

Lighting for Rail and Transit

Mass transit station lighting needs to foster a sense of safety and security, helping to make the user feel welcome, as well as aiding their efficient way-finding through the station. Our experience with large complex transit systems, involving both the renovation and construction of surface and underground stations, enables us to design lighting schemes that meet the functional and safety requirements. Through our architectural lighting ability, we are able to enhance environments and make the station a destination in and of itself.

KruunuVuorensilta Bridge, Finland

Lighting for Bridges

Bridge lighting at its best reinforces community pride, enhances orientation, supplements visibility in surrounding areas and encourages the use of smaller roads at night. Working with our clients, our inclusive design process generates multiple options, enabling us to develop the ideal solution for meeting aesthetic and operational needs.

Full Lifecycle Service

WSP’s services in the design and implementation of lighting systems include: